Escape the rent cycle trap

The housing shortage (“Building shortfall hits home in Sydney”, September 17) amply demonstrates the likely continuation of the ‘generation rent’ phenomenon (whereby adult children live in the family home). While the government has a duty to improve financial literacy, potential first-time buyers must also get smart with their investments, or else risk losing a spot on the property ladder. There is hope of escape from the renting cycle, but it requires property acquisition to be treated as a business process and when supply is structurally down, it makes no sense to delay.